Answer · confidence: thin
Did 1909 medical journals side with the referee board or with Wiley about benzoate?
Research question: Which contemporary medical or trade journals reviewed the 1909 referee board report alongside Wiley's 1908 benzoate findings, and did they side with the board or with Wiley's exclusion recommendation?
The provided records do not identify any contemporary medical or trade journals that reviewed the 1909 referee board report alongside Wiley's 1908 findings, as the sources are limited to a 1909 newspaper article and a 1909 JAMA Network entry. The evidence shows that the Association of National Food and Dairy Departments voted to endorse the board's report 1, while a committee headed by Dr. Floyd W. Robinson reported adversely to the board's findings 2. Dr. Daley also opposed the board's findings 3, whereas Dr. Russell H. Chittenden stated that sodium benzoate is no more harmful than salt 4. The records confirm that the referee board reversed Dr. Harvey W. Wiley's findings regarding the harmfulness of benzoate of soda 6.
Checked 2026-10-15. Only documented and supported facts are used.
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[1] documented
The Association of National Food and Dairy Departments voted 57 to 42 to endorse the referee board's report on benzoate of soda.
"The resolution, adopted by a vote of 57 to 42. follows: “That this association indorses the re report - port report of the referee board of consulting scientific experts appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Wilson, at the direction of President Roosevelt, upon the use of benzoate of soda in food products.”"Image 6 of The Birmingham age-herald (Birmingham, Ala.), August 27, 1909
[2] documented
A committee headed by Dr. Floyd W. Robinson reported adversely to the board's findings, declaring that benzoate promoted the practice of concealing insanitary methods.
"A committee headed by Dr. Floyd W. Robinson of Lansing, Mich., which had been appointed to “investigate” the Rem Remsen - sen Remsen board, previously had reported ad adversely - versely adversely to the board’s findings, declar declaring - ing declaring benzoate promoted "the practice of concealing insanitary methods,”"Image 6 of The Birmingham age-herald (Birmingham, Ala.), August 27, 1909
[3] documented
Dr. Daley of Buffalo opposed the board's findings, arguing that subjects in the New Haven experiment experienced stomach troubles attributed by one subject to cold weather and hard work.
"Dr. Daley of Buffalo vigorously op opposed - posed opposed the findings of the board and said that while the subjects were being given the experimental foods they were also being given other foods calculated to furnish proper nourishment for their needs. “in the New Haven squad,” he de declared, - clared, declared, “I find stomach troubles, one of the subjects attributed to cold weather and hard w"Image 6 of The Birmingham age-herald (Birmingham, Ala.), August 27, 1909
[4] supported
Dr. Russell H. Chittenden stated that sodium benzoate is no more harmful than corresponding amounts of salt and that eating small quantities of certain berries provides more benzoate than the administered dose.
"“1 believe the evi evidence - dence evidence warrants the opinion that sodium benzoate is no more harmful than cor- ; , corresponding amounts of salt. "Certainly huckleberries, cranberries, plums, prunes and other retailed fruits contain appreciable amounts of benzoate, in other words the eating of a small quantity of huckleberries, raspberries or kindred berries is accompanied by the taking "Image 6 of The Birmingham age-herald (Birmingham, Ala.), August 27, 1909
[5] documented
Dr. H. W. Wiley, chief chemist of the department of agriculture, discussed the chemistry of bleached flour but stated it was not his intention to give an opinion on its effect on the human system or its use in concealing inferiority.
"In discussing the chemistry of bieaciied flour, Dr. H. W. Wiley, chief chemist of the department of agriculture, confined himself to the technical side of the sub subject, - ject, subject, saying it was not his intention to give an opinion on the effect of bleached flour on the human system or its use in concealing inferiority or promoting fraud."Image 6 of The Birmingham age-herald (Birmingham, Ala.), August 27, 1909
[6] supported
The referee board appointed by President Roosevelt reversed Dr. Harvey W. Wiley's findings regarding the harmfulness of benzoate of soda as a food preservative.
"The referee board appointed by President Roosevelt to review some of the decisions made by the Bureau of Chemistry, according to press reports, has reversed the findings of Dr. Harvey W. Wiley regarding the harmfulness of benzoate of soda as a food preservative."DR. WILEY AND BENZOATE OF SODA - JAMA Network